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Topic: Pulling Axles For Towing (Read 795 times) previous topic - next topic

Pulling Axles For Towing

Can anyone with experience tell me how difficult it is to pull the axles on a Foretravel for towing. Is this something I could do myself? I have pulled axle shafts on light trucks many years ago, but I don't know if the process is as easy or if the axle shafts are too heavy to handle. I am asking because I had my coach towed on Tuesday, and the driver disconnected the driveshaft. I asked about pulling the axles, but the people at the tow company acted like I was speaking a foreign language. Unfortunately, this was the only tow company in the area that had the equipment to tow the coach, and it had taken nearly two weeks of arguing to get the roadside service people to contract t with them. When the coach was delivered to the Cumins shop, the pinion yoke was broken. The Cumins service person told me the driver probably did not secure it and it bounced around, breaking the yoke. So in case I ever need a tow again, I intend to get axle caps and I want to be prepared to pull the axles myself in case I get another driver who can't/won't do it.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #1 –
I would pull the axles as it is way easier than pulling the u joints and I wouldn't have to get under the
coach.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #2 –
Get a set of covers in case you ever need to pull the axles. Our coach's previous owners had some and gave them to us—just in case we ever need them. I'm happy to have them!
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #3 –
Much cheaper to get some axle caps and couple trash bags to put the oily axles in. Pull both axles. I carry caps and new gaskets. Wouldn't hurt to look up install torque of the axle bolts,

Axle Caps (split from Going down highway and white smoke coming out)

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #4 –
Dave the tow company needs to be responsible for ANY damage they caused!!! In 40 years of truck and equipment repair I don't  understand how the yoke can be damaged beyond being useable.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #5 –
Would be interested in knowing where it was broken at. Even if they just tied up the end of the drive shaft they took loose from the pinion yoke should not of damaged the yoke. I had mine towed and they completely removed the drive shaft with no problems. Only thing I can think of is they hit it with a hammer trying to get a rusted u- joint to break loose from the yoke. Either way the tow company is responsible for the damages.
Larry & Debbie Town
2000 U320 4210 
Previous 88 GV

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #6 –
The tow company wanted to send the driver who somehow broke it back to fix it. I declined, so now I will have to file a claim with the roadside service provider to get it repaired. I really don't know how it was damaged. The driver claimed it was ok when he disconnected it but was broken when he arrived at the destination. The Cummins service adviser suggested the driver may not have secured the driveshaft well and it bounced around and broke the yoke. I don't think there is any way to know at this point.

What I want to know is whether pulling the axles is something I can do myself if this ever happens again. How difficult is it to do? I want to get the axle caps and be prepared to pull the axles myself if I ever need towed again and the driver can't or won't pull them.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #7 –
All you have to do is undo the nuts and if they are held into place with tapered dowels the axel needs
to be hit with a big hammer to pop the dowels and then remove them with a screw driver and if they
don't have dowels just pull the axels out. It's fairly straight foreword.  Then just put the caps on with
the same nuts. I hope that answers your question as I don't know what your mechanical abilities are.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #8 –
Found this YouTube video.

https://youtu.be/G1AGXbu1U5M?si=QQwcO-2yHG1UH9gG
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #9 –
Quote from: oldguy –
All you have to do is undo the nuts and if they are held into place with tapered dowels the axel needs
to be hit with a big hammer to pop the dowels and then remove them with a screw driver and if they
don't have dowels just pull the axels out. It's fairly straight foreword.  Then just put the caps on with
the same nuts. I hope that answers your question as I don't know what your mechanical abilities are.
That sounds like what I remember from many years ago working on light trucks that had similar setups. I just wasn't sure if there was something different on these big boys.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Realmccoy –
Found this YouTube video.

https://youtu.be/G1AGXbu1U5M?si=QQwcO-2yHG1UH9gG

Thanks. That doesn't look any harder than I remember on an old one ton. I will be prepared in case I ever need another tow, because the tow people around here looked at me like I was speaking Chinese or Klingon when I asked about pulling the axle shafts.
Dave and Kathy Bennett
2004 U270
Build #6253
1600W Solar
700 AH Battle Born Lithium
2015 Jeep Wrangler

No matter what happens, remember you always get the trip out of it.
 

Re: Pulling Axles For Towing

Reply #11 –
if you dont have a cover make some cardboard covers and pull axles.
Axles should be replaced in same drive position . They will have wear marks on splines. Never hurts to mark them.
Lefty loosy righty titey. They are really tight. Really. Everyone should own a way to reach these torque numbers. Breaker bar/impact gun and correct size impact rated socket extension if needed
Clean plastic bags to store in once removed.  Gear lube stinks generally. Makes a mess.tape around bags on axle shaft to make more manageable with bags.
Remove BOTH axles before first mile of towing and speeds above 5 mph to prevent spider gear damage in differential in an open differential. Both in a locker. Unlikely in your coach. But mentionable.
I mention this because I personally would  not pull axle in traffic lane and die trying. Pull when clear of traffic.